The fear of spiders is called arachnophobia, and it’s widespread. The concept of a quick-moving creature with eight legs and a preference for hiding in dark shadowy corners is enough to cause many people to shudder.
Huntsman spiders, which are found in Australia, are truly unique. They are ENORMOUS. If I encountered one in person, I would swiftly retreat without hesitation.
Nonetheless, there are individuals who find arachnids to be stunning creatures deserving of our admiration.
One such person is Betty, the proprietor of Barnyard Betty’s Rescue. The rescue facility accepts various types of animals. In 2015, Betty saved a Huntsman spider as large as a dinner plate, which would have likely been killed by the individuals who discovered it. Naturally, they were scared by the creature’s size.
Betty captured a few photos of her unique rescue, which quickly gained fame on the internet.
In the caption for her photos, she wrote:
“Yes, she is very real and very large and not edited with Photoshop!!
“She was a gorgeous, tranquil spider, not aggressive in any way, and like most spiders, she simply wanted to go about her business of eating bugs and living in peace.
“She didn’t or doesn’t deserve to be killed! Spiders are often misunderstood and pitied.”
She saved the big lady from an old farmhouse and gave her the name Charlotte.
“The kids came running out of the house yelling to me that there was a spider,” Betty told CBS News. “Their mother wanted to kill it. I said, ‘No, don’t kill; I’ll relocate it!'”
Her usual method for capturing spiders involves placing a glass over them and then sliding a piece of paper under it.
That wouldn’t work in this case.
“She was the size of a dinner plate,” said Betty. “So, I grabbed an old broom and gently coaxed her to climb onto the broom head.”
Many individuals might have attempted to kill the Huntsman spider or experienced a panic attack. However, Betty viewed the spider as unique and not something to be feared.
Betty relocated Charlotte to an old shed on her property, where she could be protected from human interference.
After Betty shared the pictures on Facebook in 2015, they quickly went viral and are still circulated today. People have varied and strong reactions to the pictures!
Betty is delighted that Charlotte is continuing to alter people’s perception of spiders, who are often “unfairly demonized.”
Even though Huntsman spiders can grow to a daunting size, reaching up to 12 inches from one leg tip to the other, they do not pose any threat to humans.
Betty perceives Charlotte as a “beautiful” creature. Although I can acknowledge Charlotte’s incredible and majestic qualities, I would still likely run in the opposite direction as fast as I can if I encounter one in the wild.
Hopefully, others are able to share Betty’s perspective on them!
Rewritten Source: https://blog.therainforestsite.greatergood.com/gfl-hunstman-spider-rescue/